Sub-carrier or tone plan and design within OFDM/OFDMA wireless communications

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device (alternatively, device, WDEV, etc.) includes a processing circuitry configured to support communications with other WDEV(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. In some examples, the device includes a communication interface and a processing circuitry, among other possible circuitries, components, elements, etc. to support communications with other WDEV(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. A WDEV selects a resource unit (RU) from an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) sub-carrier plan for use in supporting communications with another WDEV. The WDEV transmits a signal to the other WDEV that includes information that specifies the RU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan and then supports communications with the other WDEV using the RU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan. The OFDMA sub-carrier plan includes multiple OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plans of different sized RUs and null sub-carriers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS ProvisionalPriority Claims

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional App. Ser. No. 62/170,618, entitled“Sub-carrier or tone plan and design within OFDM/OFDMA wirelesscommunications,” filed Jun. 3, 2015; U.S. Provisional App. Ser. No.62/188,426, entitled “Sub-carrier or tone plan and design withinOFDM/OFDMA wireless communications,” filed Jul. 2, 2015; U.S.Provisional App. Ser. No. 62/212,723, entitled “Sub-carrier or tone planand design within OFDM/OFDMA wireless communications,” filed Sep. 1,2015; U.S. Provisional App. Ser. No. 62/327,597, entitled “Sub-carrieror tone plan and design within OFDM/OFDMA wireless communications,”filed Apr. 26, 2016; and U.S. Provisional App. Ser. No. 62/327,904,entitled “Pilot plan and design within OFDM/OFDMA wirelesscommunications,” filed Apr. 26, 2016; all of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety and made part of thepresent U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following U.S. Utility patent application is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S.Utility patent application for all purposes:

-   1. U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Pilot    plan and design within OFDM/OFDMA wireless communications,” filed    concurrently on Apr. 29, 2016, pending.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems; and,more particularly, to signal design and architecture within single user,multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications.

Description of Related Art

Communication systems support wireless and wire lined communicationsbetween wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. The systemscan range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems,to the Internet, to point-to-point in-home wireless networks and canoperate in accordance with one or more communication standards. Forexample, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance withone or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11x (wherex may be various extensions such as a, b, n, g, etc.), Bluetooth,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), etc., and/or variations thereof.

In some instances, wireless communication is made between a transmitter(TX) and receiver (RX) using single-input-single-output (SISO)communication. Another type of wireless communication issingle-input-multiple-output (SIMO) in which a single TX processes datainto radio frequency (RF) signals that are transmitted to a RX thatincludes two or more antennae and two or more RX paths.

Yet an alternative type of wireless communication ismultiple-input-single-output (MISO) in which a TX includes two or moretransmission paths that each respectively converts a correspondingportion of baseband signals into RF signals, which are transmitted viacorresponding antennae to a RX. Another type of wireless communicationis multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) in which a TX and RX eachrespectively includes multiple paths such that a TX parallel processesdata using a spatial and time encoding function to produce two or morestreams of data and a RX receives the multiple RF signals via multipleRX paths that recapture the streams of data utilizing a spatial and timedecoding function.

The number of wireless communication devices implemented andconcurrently operative within wireless communication systems continuesto increase and presents significant challenges for sharing thecommunication medium. The prior art does not provide adequate means bywhich multiple devices can operate efficiently within such communicationsystems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of dense deployment ofwireless communication devices.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of communication betweenwireless communication devices.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating another example of communicationbetween wireless communication devices.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) and/or orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA).

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and/or OFDMA.

FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and/or OFDMA.

FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and/or OFDMA.

FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating an example of single-carrier (SC)signaling.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet ofa second type.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating an example of at least one portion ofan OFDM/A packet of another type.

FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet ofa third type.

FIG. 4E is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet ofa fourth type.

FIG. 4F is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5E is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of selection amongdifferent OFDM/A frame structures for use in communications betweenwireless communication devices and specifically showing OFDM/A framestructures corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs).

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of various types ofdifferent resource units (RUs).

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating another example of various types ofdifferent RUs.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating another example of various types ofdifferent RUs.

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating an example of various types ofcommunication protocol specified physical layer (PHY) fast Fouriertransform (FFT) sizes.

FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating an example of different channelbandwidths and relationship there between.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an example of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan.

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan.

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan.

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forexecution by one or more wireless communication devices.

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method forexecution by one or more wireless communication devices.

FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method forexecution by one or more wireless communication devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 includesbase stations and/or access points 112-116, wireless communicationdevices 118-132 (e.g., wireless stations (STAs)), and a network hardwarecomponent 134. The wireless communication devices 118-132 may be laptopcomputers, or tablets, 118 and 126, personal digital assistants 120 and130, personal computers 124 and 132 and/or cellular telephones 122 and128. Other examples of such wireless communication devices 118-132 couldalso or alternatively include other types of devices that includewireless communication capability. The details of an embodiment of suchwireless communication devices are described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 2B among other diagrams.

Some examples of possible devices that may be implemented to operate inaccordance with any of the various examples, embodiments, options,and/or their equivalents, etc. described herein may include, but are notlimited by, appliances within homes, businesses, etc. such asrefrigerators, microwaves, heaters, heating systems, air conditioners,air conditioning systems, lighting control systems, and/or any othertypes of appliances, etc.; meters such as for natural gas service,electrical service, water service, Internet service, cable and/orsatellite television service, and/or any other types of meteringpurposes, etc.; devices wearable on a user or person including watches,monitors such as those that monitor activity level, bodily functionssuch as heartbeat, breathing, bodily activity, bodily motion or lackthereof, etc.; medical devices including intravenous (IV) medicinedelivery monitoring and/or controlling devices, blood monitoring devices(e.g., glucose monitoring devices) and/or any other types of medicaldevices, etc.; premises monitoring devices such as movementdetection/monitoring devices, door closed/ajar detection/monitoringdevices, security/alarm system monitoring devices, and/or any other typeof premises monitoring devices; multimedia devices includingtelevisions, computers, audio playback devices, video playback devices,and/or any other type of multimedia devices, etc.; and/or generally anyother type(s) of device(s) that include(s) wireless communicationcapability, functionality, circuitry, etc. In general, any device thatis implemented to support wireless communications may be implemented tooperate in accordance with any of the various examples, embodiments,options, and/or their equivalents, etc. described herein.

The base stations (BSs) or access points (APs) 112-116 are operablycoupled to the network hardware 134 via local area network connections136, 138, and 140. The network hardware 134, which may be a router,switch, bridge, modem, system controller, etc., provides a wide areanetwork connection 142 for the communication system 100. Each of thebase stations or access points 112-116 has an associated antenna orantenna array to communicate with the wireless communication devices inits area. Typically, the wireless communication devices register with aparticular base station or access point 112-116 to receive services fromthe communication system 100. For direct connections (i.e.,point-to-point communications), wireless communication devicescommunicate directly via an allocated channel.

Any of the various wireless communication devices (WDEVs) 118-132 andBSs or APs 112-116 may include a processing circuitry and/or acommunication interface to support communications with any other of thewireless communication devices 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116. In anexample of operation, a processing circuitry and/or a communicationinterface implemented within one of the devices (e.g., any one of theWDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116) is/are configured to process atleast one signal received from and/or to generate at least one signal tobe transmitted to another one of the devices (e.g., any other one of theWDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116).

Note that general reference to a communication device, such as awireless communication device (e.g., WDEVs) 118-132 and BSs or APs112-116 in FIG. 1, or any other communication devices and/or wirelesscommunication devices may alternatively be made generally herein usingthe term ‘device’ (e.g., with respect to FIG. 2A below, “device 210”when referring to “wireless communication device 210” or “WDEV 210,” or“devices 210-234” when referring to “wireless communication devices210-234”; or with respect to FIG. 2B below, use of “device 310” mayalternatively be used when referring to “wireless communication device310”, or “devices 390 and 391 (or 390-391)” when referring to wirelesscommunication devices 390 and 391 or WDEVs 390 and 391). Generally, suchgeneral references or designations of devices may be usedinterchangeably.

The processing circuitry and/or the communication interface of any oneof the various devices, WDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116, may beconfigured to support communications with any other of the variousdevices, WDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116. Such communications maybe uni-directional or bi-directional between devices. Also, suchcommunications may be uni-directional between devices at one time andbi-directional between those devices at another time.

In an example, a device (e.g., any one of the WDEVs 118-132 and BSs orAPs 112-116) includes a communication interface and/or a processingcircuitry (and possibly other possible circuitries, components,elements, etc.) to support communications with other device(s) and togenerate and process signals for such communications. The communicationinterface and/or the processing circuitry operate to perform variousoperations and functions to effectuate such communications (e.g., thecommunication interface and the processing circuitry may be configuredto perform certain operation(s) in conjunction with one another,cooperatively, dependently with one another, etc. and other operation(s)separately, independently from one another, etc.). In some examples,such a processing circuitry includes all capability, functionality,and/or circuitry, etc. to perform such operations as described herein.In some other examples, such a communication interface includes allcapability, functionality, and/or circuitry, etc. to perform suchoperations as described herein. In even other examples, such aprocessing circuitry and a communication interface include allcapability, functionality, and/or circuitry, etc. to perform suchoperations as described herein, at least in part, cooperatively with oneanother.

In an example of implementation and operation, BS or AP 116 includes aprocessing circuitry that is configured to generate select a resourceunit (RU) from an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)sub-carrier plan for use in supporting communications with WDEV 130and/or WDEV 132. The BS or AP 116 then transmits a signal to the WDEV130 and/or the WDEV 132 that includes information that specifies the RUthat is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan. The BS or AP 116 thensupports communications with the WDEV 130 and/or the WDEV 132 using theRU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan. In some examples, afirst RU is assigned for use to support communications with WDEV 130,and a second RU is assigned for use to support communications with WDEV132. In some instances, the RU assignment(s) are for communications bothfrom the BS or AP 116 to the WDEV 130 and/or the WDEV 132 as well asfrom the WDEV 130 and/or the WDEV 132 to the BS or AP 116. In otherinstances, first RU assignment(s) is/are made for communications fromthe BS or AP 116 to the WDEV 130 and/or the WDEV 132 and second RUassignment(s) is/are made for communications from the WDEV 130 and/orthe WDEV 132 to the BS or AP 116.

In some examples, the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is characterized by a firstOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes first RUs of a firstsub-carrier size and first null sub-carriers that are distributed acrossOFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., null sub-carriers include no information/datamodulated therein, void of information/data, etc.) and is alsocharacterized by a second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includessecond RUs of a second sub-carrier size that is greater than the firstsub-carrier size and second null sub-carriers that are distributedacross the OFDMA sub-carriers. In some implementations, the second nullsub-carriers are located in common locations as the first nullsub-carriers within the OFDMA sub-carriers. In certain examples, theOFDMA sub-carriers are included within a communication channel that hasa particular bandwidth (e.g., of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz,and/or any other desired bandwidth).

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment 201 of dense deploymentof wireless communication devices (shown as WDEVs in the diagram). Anyof the various WDEVs 210-234 may be access points (APs) or wirelessstations (STAs). For example, WDEV 210 may be an AP or an AP-operativeSTA that communicates with WDEVs 212, 214, 216, and 218 that are STAs.WDEV 220 may be an AP or an AP-operative STA that communicates withWDEVs 222, 224, 226, and 228 that are STAs. In certain instances, atleast one additional AP or AP-operative STA may be deployed, such asWDEV 230 that communicates with WDEVs 232 and 234 that are STAs. TheSTAs may be any type of one or more wireless communication device typesincluding wireless communication devices 118-132, and the APs orAP-operative STAs may be any type of one or more wireless communicationdevices including as BSs or APs 112-116. Different groups of the WDEVs210-234 may be partitioned into different basic services sets (BSSs). Insome instances, at least one of the WDEVs 210-234 are included within atleast one overlapping basic services set (OBSS) that cover two or moreBSSs. As described above with the association of WDEVs in an AP-STArelationship, one of the WDEVs may be operative as an AP and certain ofthe WDEVs can be implemented within the same basic services set (BSS).

This disclosure presents novel architectures, methods, approaches, etc.that allow for improved spatial re-use for next generation WiFi orwireless local area network (WLAN) systems. Next generation WiFi systemsare expected to improve performance in dense deployments where manyclients and APs are packed in a given area (e.g., which may be an area[indoor and/or outdoor] with a high density of devices, such as a trainstation, airport, stadium, building, shopping mall, arenas, conventioncenters, colleges, downtown city centers, etc. to name just someexamples). Large numbers of devices operating within a given area can beproblematic if not impossible using prior technologies.

In an example of implementation and operation, WDEV 210 includes aprocessing circuitry that is configured to generate select a RU from anOFDMA sub-carrier plan for use in supporting communications with WDEV214 and/or WDEV 218. The WDEV 210 then transmits a signal to the WDEV214 and/or the WDEV 218 that includes information that specifies the RUthat is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan. The WDEV 210 thensupports communications with the WDEV 214 and/or the WDEV 218 using theRU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan. In some examples, afirst RU is assigned for use to support communications with WDEV 214,and a second RU is assigned for use to support communications with WDEV218. In some instances, the RU assignment(s) are for communications bothfrom the WDEV 210 to the WDEV 214 and/or the WDEV 218 as well as fromthe WDEV 214 and/or the WDEV 218 to the WDEV 210. In other instances,first RU assignment(s) is/are made for communications from the WDEV 210to the WDEV 214 and/or the WDEV 218 and second RU assignment(s) is/aremade for communications from the WDEV 214 and/or the WDEV 218 to theWDEV 210.

In some examples, the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is characterized by a firstOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes first RUs of a firstsub-carrier size and first null sub-carriers that are distributed acrossOFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., null sub-carriers include no information/datamodulated therein, void of information/data, etc.) and is alsocharacterized by a second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includessecond RUs of a second sub-carrier size that is greater than the firstsub-carrier size and second null sub-carriers that are distributedacross the OFDMA sub-carriers. In some implementations, the second nullsub-carriers are located in common locations as the first nullsub-carriers within the OFDMA sub-carriers. In certain examples, theOFDMA sub-carriers are included within a communication channel that hasa particular bandwidth (e.g., of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz,and/or any other desired bandwidth).

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example 202 of communicationbetween wireless communication devices. A wireless communication device310 (e.g., which may be any one of devices 118-132 as with reference toFIG. 1) is in communication with another wireless communication device390 (and/or any number of other wireless communication devices upthrough another wireless communication device 391) via a transmissionmedium. The wireless communication device 310 includes a communicationinterface 320 to perform transmitting and receiving of at least onesignal, symbol, packet, frame, etc. (e.g., using a transmitter 322 and areceiver 324) (note that general reference to packet or frame may beused interchangeably).

Generally speaking, the communication interface 320 is implemented toperform any such operations of an analog front end (AFE) and/or physicallayer (PHY) transmitter, receiver, and/or transceiver. Examples of suchoperations may include any one or more of various operations includingconversions between the frequency and analog or continuous time domains(e.g., such as the operations performed by a digital to analog converter(DAC) and/or an analog to digital converter (ADC)), gain adjustmentincluding scaling, filtering (e.g., in either the digital or analogdomains), frequency conversion (e.g., such as frequency upscaling and/orfrequency downscaling, such as to a baseband frequency at which one ormore of the components of the device 310 operates), equalization,pre-equalization, metric generation, symbol mapping and/or de-mapping,automatic gain control (AGC) operations, and/or any other operationsthat may be performed by an AFE and/or PHY component within a wirelesscommunication device.

In some implementations, the wireless communication device 310 alsoincludes a processing circuitry 330, and an associated memory 340, toexecute various operations including interpreting at least one signal,symbol, packet, and/or frame transmitted to wireless communicationdevice 390 and/or received from the wireless communication device 390and/or wireless communication device 391. The wireless communicationdevices 310 and 390 (and/or 391) may be implemented using at least oneintegrated circuit in accordance with any desired configuration orcombination of components, modules, etc. within at least one integratedcircuit. Also, the wireless communication devices 310, 390, and/or 391may each include one or more antennas for transmitting and/or receivingof at least one packet or frame (e.g., WDEV 390 may include m antennae,and WDEV 391 may include n antennae).

Also, in some examples, note that one or more of the processingcircuitry 330, the communication interface 320 (including the TX 322and/or RX 324 thereof), and/or the memory 340 may be implemented in oneor more “processing modules,” “processing circuits,” “processors,”and/or “processing units” or their equivalents. Considering one example,one processing circuitry 330 a may be implemented to include theprocessing circuitry 330, the communication interface 320 (including theTX 322 and/or RX 324 thereof), and the memory 340. Considering anotherexample, two or more processing circuitries may be implemented toinclude the processing circuitry 330, the communication interface 320(including the TX 322 and/or RX 324 thereof), and the memory 340. Insuch examples, such a “processing circuitry” or “processing circuitries”(or “processor” or “processors”) is/are configured to perform variousoperations, functions, communications, etc. as described herein. Ingeneral, the various elements, components, etc. shown within the device310 may be implemented in any number of “processing modules,”“processing circuits,” “processors,” and/or “processing units” (e.g., 1,2, . . . , and generally using N such “processing modules,” “processingcircuits,” “processors,” and/or “processing units”, where N is apositive integer greater than or equal to 1).

In some examples, the device 310 includes both processing circuitry 330and communication interface 320 configured to perform variousoperations. In other examples, the device 310 includes processingcircuitry 330 a configured to perform various operations. Generally,such operations include generating, transmitting, etc. signals intendedfor one or more other devices (e.g., device 390 through 391) andreceiving, processing, etc. other signals received for one or more otherdevices (e.g., device 390 through 391).

In some examples, note that the communication interface 320, which iscoupled to the processing circuitry 330, that is configured to supportcommunications within a satellite communication system, a wirelesscommunication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-opticcommunication system, and/or a mobile communication system (and/or anyother type of communication system implemented using any type ofcommunication medium or media). Any of the signals generated andtransmitted and/or received and processed by the device 310 may becommunicated via any of these types of communication systems.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating another example 203 of communicationbetween wireless communication devices. At or during a first time (e.g.,time 1 (ΔT1)), the WDEV 310 transmits signal(s) to WDEV 390, and/or theWDEV 390 transmits other signal(s) to WDEV 310. At or during a secondtime (e.g., time 2 (ΔT2)), the WDEV 310 processes signal(s) receivedfrom WDEV 390, and/or the WDEV 390 processes signal(s) received fromWDEV 310.

In an example of implementation and operation, WDEV 310 selects a RUfrom an OFDMA sub-carrier plan for use in supporting communications withWDEV 390. The WDEV 310 then transmits a signal to the WDEV 390 thatincludes information that specifies the RU that is selected from theOFDMA sub-carrier plan (e.g., at or during the first time (e.g., time 1(ΔT1)). The WDEV 310 then supports communications with the WDEV 390using the RU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan (e.g., ator during the second time (e.g., time 2 (ΔT2)).

Note that different RU assignments may be made for the WDEV 390 atdifferent times (e.g., a first RU assignment for use to supportcommunications with WDEV 390 at or during the first time and a second RUassignment for use to support communications with WDEV 390 at or duringthe second time). Note also that the WDEV may transmit a signal thatincludes different RUs assigned to different WDEVs (e.g., a first RUassignment for use to support communications with WDEV 390, a second RUassignment for use to support communications with WDEV 391, etc.). Insome examples, one respective RU is assigned for use by each other WDEVwith which the WDEV 310 communicates, but also note that two or more RUsmay be assigned to any one other WDEV in other examples in otherexamples.

Also, in some examples of implementation, the WDEV 310 also includes acommunication interface, coupled to a processing circuitry therein thatperforms the operations as described herein, that is configured tosupport communications within a satellite communication system, awireless communication system, a wired communication system, afiber-optic communication system, and/or a mobile communication system.Such a processing circuitry is configured to transmit the signal to theWDEV 390 or support communications with the WDEV 390 via thecommunication interface. In one specific implementation, the informationthat specifies the RU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier planis included within a signal field (SIG) of the signal. Various examplesof signal fields (SIGs) within various types of OFDM/A packets aredescribed below (e.g., such as with respect to FIG. 4B, FIG. 4D, FIG.4E, FIG. 5A-5E. Also note that different RUs may be assigned todifferent WDEVs within information included within such a SIG asdescribed herein.

In another example of implementation and operation, the WDEV 310includes both a processing circuitry to perform many of the operationsdescribed above and also includes a communication interface, coupled tothe processing circuitry, that is configured to support communicationswithin a satellite communication system, a wireless communicationsystem, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communicationsystem, and/or a mobile communication system. The processing circuitryis configured to transmit the first OFDMA packet and/or the second OFDMApacket to WDEV 390 and/or WDEV 391 via the communication interface.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example 301 of orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) and/or orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA). OFDM's modulation may be viewed as dividing upan available spectrum into a plurality of narrowband sub-carriers (e.g.,relatively lower data rate carriers). The sub-carriers are includedwithin an available frequency spectrum portion or band. This availablefrequency spectrum is divided into the sub-carriers or tones used forthe OFDM or OFDMA symbols and packets/frames. Note that sub-carrier ortone may be used interchangeably. Typically, the frequency responses ofthese sub-carriers are non-overlapping and orthogonal. Each sub-carriermay be modulated using any of a variety of modulation coding techniques(e.g., as shown by the vertical axis of modulated data).

A communication device may be configured to perform encoding of one ormore bits to generate one or more coded bits used to generate themodulation data (or generally, data). For example, a processingcircuitry and the communication interface of a communication device maybe configured to perform forward error correction (FEC) and/or errorchecking and correction (ECC) code of one or more bits to generate oneor more coded bits. Examples of FEC and/or ECC may include turbo code,convolutional code, turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM), low densityparity check (LDPC) code, Reed-Solomon (RS) code, BCH (Bose andRay-Chaudhuri, and Hocquenghem) code, binary convolutional code (BCC),Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), and/or any other type of ECC and/or FECcode and/or combination thereof, etc. Note that more than one type ofECC and/or FEC code may be used in any of various implementationsincluding concatenation (e.g., first ECC and/or FEC code followed bysecond ECC and/or FEC code, etc. such as based on an inner code/outercode architecture, etc.), parallel architecture (e.g., such that firstECC and/or FEC code operates on first bits while second ECC and/or FECcode operates on second bits, etc.), and/or any combination thereof. Theone or more coded bits may then undergo modulation or symbol mapping togenerate modulation symbols. The modulation symbols may include dataintended for one or more recipient devices. Note that such modulationsymbols may be generated using any of various types of modulation codingtechniques. Examples of such modulation coding techniques may includebinary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK),8-phase shift keying (PSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), 32amplitude and phase shift keying (APSK), etc., uncoded modulation,and/or any other desired types of modulation including higher orderedmodulations that may include even greater number of constellation points(e.g., 1024 QAM, etc.).

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example 302 of OFDM and/orOFDMA. A transmitting device transmits modulation symbols via thesub-carriers. Note that such modulation symbols may include datamodulation symbols, pilot modulation symbols (e.g., for use in channelestimation, characterization, etc.) and/or other types of modulationsymbols (e.g., with other types of information included therein). OFDMand/or OFDMA modulation may operate by performing simultaneoustransmission of a large number of narrowband carriers (or multi-tones).In some applications, a guard interval (GI) or guard space is sometimesemployed between the various OFDM symbols to try to minimize the effectsof ISI (Inter-Symbol Interference) that may be caused by the effects ofmulti-path within the communication system, which can be particularly ofconcern in wireless communication systems. In addition, a cyclic prefix(CP) and/or cyclic suffix (CS) (shown in right hand side of FIG. 3A)that may be a copy of the CP may also be employed within the guardinterval to allow switching time (e.g., such as when jumping to a newcommunication channel or sub-channel) and to help maintain orthogonalityof the OFDM and/or OFDMA symbols. Generally speaking, an OFDM and/orOFDMA system design is based on the expected delay spread within thecommunication system (e.g., the expected delay spread of thecommunication channel).

In a single-user system in which one or more OFDM symbols or OFDMpackets/frames are transmitted between a transmitter device and areceiver device, all of the sub-carriers or tones are dedicated for usein transmitting modulated data between the transmitter and receiverdevices. In a multiple user system in which one or more OFDM symbols orOFDM packets/frames are transmitted between a transmitter device andmultiple recipient or receiver devices, the various sub-carriers ortones may be mapped to different respective receiver devices asdescribed below with respect to FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating another example 303 of OFDM and/orOFDMA. Comparing OFDMA to OFDM, OFDMA is a multi-user version of thepopular orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) digitalmodulation scheme. Multiple access is achieved in OFDMA by assigningsubsets of sub-carriers to individual recipient devices or users. Forexample, first sub-carrier(s)/tone(s) may be assigned to a user 1,second sub-carrier(s)/tone(s) may be assigned to a user 2, and so on upto any desired number of users. In addition, such sub-carrier/toneassignment may be dynamic among different respective transmissions(e.g., a first assignment for a first packet/frame, a second assignmentfor second packet/frame, etc.). An OFDM packet/frame may include morethan one OFDM symbol. Similarly, an OFDMA packet/frame may include morethan one OFDMA symbol. In addition, such sub-carrier/tone assignment maybe dynamic among different respective symbols within a givenpacket/frame or superframe (e.g., a first assignment for a first OFDMAsymbol within a packet/frame, a second assignment for a second OFDMAsymbol within the packet/frame, etc.). Generally speaking, an OFDMAsymbol is a particular type of OFDM symbol, and general reference toOFDM symbol herein includes both OFDM and OFDMA symbols (and generalreference to OFDM packet/frame herein includes both OFDM and OFDMApackets/frames, and vice versa). FIG. 3C shows example 303 where theassignments of sub-carriers to different users are intermingled amongone another (e.g., sub-carriers assigned to a first user includesnon-adjacent sub-carriers and at least one sub-carrier assigned to asecond user is located in between two sub-carriers assigned to the firstuser). The different groups of sub-carriers associated with each usermay be viewed as being respective channels of a plurality of channelsthat compose all of the available sub-carriers for OFDM signaling.

FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example 304 of OFDM and/orOFDMA. In this example 304, the assignments of sub-carriers to differentusers are located in different groups of adjacent sub-carriers (e.g.,first sub-carriers assigned to a first user include first adjacentlylocated sub-carrier group, second sub-carriers assigned to a second userinclude second adjacently located sub-carrier group, etc.). Thedifferent groups of adjacently located sub-carriers associated with eachuser may be viewed as being respective channels of a plurality ofchannels that compose all of the available sub-carriers for OFDMsignaling.

FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating an example 305 of single-carrier (SC)signaling. SC signaling, when compared to OFDM signaling, includes asingular relatively wide channel across which signals are transmitted.In contrast, in OFDM, multiple narrowband sub-carriers or narrowbandsub-channels span the available frequency range, bandwidth, or spectrumacross which signals are transmitted within the narrowband sub-carriersor narrowband sub-channels.

Generally, a communication device may be configured to include aprocessing circuitry and the communication interface (or alternatively aprocessing circuitry, such a processing circuitry 330 a shown in FIG.2B) configured to process received OFDM and/or OFDMA symbols and/orframes (and/or SC symbols and/or frames) and to generate such OFDMand/or OFDMA symbols and/or frames (and/or SC symbols and/or frames).

Various examples of OFDM/A packet types, formats, etc. are providedbelow. Many of them include at least one signal field (SIG) therein.Information included within a SIG may include assignment of one or moreRUs to one or more WDEVs. In one example, a first WDEV generates anOFDM/A packet that includes a SIG that includes information thatspecifies an assignment of an RU for a second WDEV, then transmits theOFDM/A packet to the second WDEV, and then supports communications withthe second WDEV using that assigned RU. Note that such RU assignment maybe for uni-directional communications from the first WDEV to the secondWDEV, for uni-directional communications from the second WDEV to thefirst WDEV, or for bi-directional between the first WDEV and the secondWDEV.

In another example, a first WDEV generates an OFDM/A packet thatincludes a SIG that includes information that specifies an assignment ofa first RU for a second WDEV and a second RU for a third WDEV, thentransmits the OFDM/A packet to the second and third WDEVs, and thensupports communications with the second and third WDEVs using theassigned first RU and second RU. Note that such RU assignments may befor uni-directional communications from the first WDEV to the second andthird WDEVs, for uni-directional communications from the second andthird WDEVs to the first WDEV, or for bi-directional between the firstWDEV and the second and third WDEVs.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example 401 of an OFDM/A packet.This packet includes at least one preamble symbol followed by at leastone data symbol. The at least one preamble symbol includes informationfor use in identifying, classifying, and/or categorizing the packet forappropriate processing.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating another example 402 of an OFDM/Apacket of a second type. This packet also includes a preamble and data.The preamble is composed of at least one short training field (STF), atleast one long training field (LTF), and at least one signal field(SIG). The data is composed of at least one data field. In both thisexample 402 and the prior example 401, the at least one data symboland/or the at least one data field may generally be referred to as thepayload of the packet. Among other purposes, STFs and LTFs can be usedto assist a device to identify that a frame is about to start, tosynchronize timers, to select an antenna configuration, to set receivergain, to set up certain the modulation parameters for the remainder ofthe packet, to perform channel estimation for uses such as beamforming,etc. In some examples, one or more STFs are used for gain adjustment(e.g., such as automatic gain control (AGC) adjustment), and a given STFmay be repeated one or more times (e.g., repeated 1 time in oneexample). In some examples, one or more LTFs are used for channelestimation, channel characterization, etc. (e.g., such as fordetermining a channel response, a channel transfer function, etc.), anda given LTF may be repeated one or more times (e.g., repeated up to 8times in one example).

Among other purposes, the SIGs can include various information todescribe the OFDM packet including certain attributes as data rate,packet length, number of symbols within the packet, channel width,modulation encoding, modulation coding set (MCS), modulation type,whether the packet as a single or multiuser frame, frame length, etc.among other possible information. This disclosure presents, among otherthings, a means by which a variable length second at least one SIG canbe used to include any desired amount of information. By using at leastone SIG that is a variable length, different amounts of information maybe specified therein to adapt for any situation.

Various examples are described below for possible designs of a preamblefor use in wireless communications as described herein.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating another example 403 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of another type. A field within the packetmay be copied one or more times therein (e.g., where N is the number oftimes that the field is copied, and N is any positive integer greaterthan or equal to one). This copy may be a cyclically shifted copy. Thecopy may be modified in other ways from the original from which the copyis made.

FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating another example 404 of an OFDM/Apacket of a third type. In this example 404, the OFDM/A packet includesone or more fields followed by one of more first signal fields (SIG(s)1) followed by one of more second signal fields (SIG(s) 2) followed byand one or more data field.

FIG. 4E is a diagram illustrating another example 405 of an OFDM/Apacket of a fourth type. In this example 405, the OFDM/A packet includesone or more first fields followed by one of more first signal fields(SIG(s) 1) followed by one or more second fields followed by one of moresecond signal fields (SIG(s) 2) followed by and one or more data field.

FIG. 4F is a diagram illustrating another example 406 of an OFDM/Apacket. Such a general preamble format may be backward compatible withprior IEEE 802.11 prior standards, protocols, and/or recommendedpractices.

In this example 406, the OFDM/A packet includes a legacy portion (e.g.,at least one legacy short training field (STF) shown as L-STF, legacysignal field (SIG) shown as L-SIG) and a first signal field (SIG) (e.g.,VHT [Very High Throughput] SIG (shown as SIG-A)). Then, the OFDM/Apacket includes one or more other VHT portions (e.g., VHT short trainingfield (STF) shown as VHT-STF, one or more VHT long training fields(LTFs) shown as VHT-LTF, a second SIG (e.g., VHT SIG (shown as SIG-B)),and one or more data symbols.

Various diagrams below are shown that depict at least a portion (e.g.,preamble) of various OFDM/A packet designs.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating another example 501 of an OFDM/Apacket. In this example 501, the OFDM/A packet includes a signal field(SIG) and/or a repeat of that SIG that corresponds to a prior or legacycommunication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relativeto a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/orrecommended practice (shown as L-SIG/R-L-SIG) followed by a first atleast one SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard,protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A1, e.g., whereHE corresponds to high efficiency) followed by a second at least one SIGbased on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A2, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by a short training field (STF)based on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-STF, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by one or more fields.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example 502 of an OFDM/Apacket. In this example 502, the OFDM/A packet includes a signal field(SIG) and/or a repeat of that SIG that corresponds to a prior or legacycommunication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relativeto a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/orrecommended practice (shown as L-SIG/R-L-SIG) followed by a first atleast one SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard,protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A1, e.g., whereHE corresponds to high efficiency) followed by a second at least one SIGbased on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A2, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by a third at least one SIGbased on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A3, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by a fourth at least one SIGbased on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A4, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by a STF based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-STF, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by one or more fields.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating another example 502 of an OFDM/Apacket. In this example 503, the OFDM/A packet includes a signal field(SIG) and/or a repeat of that SIG that corresponds to a prior or legacycommunication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relativeto a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/orrecommended practice (shown as L-SIG/R-L-SIG) followed by a first atleast one SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard,protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A1, e.g., whereHE corresponds to high efficiency) followed by a second at least one SIGbased on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A2, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by a third at least one SIGbased on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-B, e.g., where HE againcorresponds to high efficiency) followed by a STF based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-STF, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by one or more fields. This example 503 shows adistributed SIG design that includes a first at least one SIG-A (e.g.,HE-SIG-A1 and HE-SIG-A2) and a second at least one SIG-B (e.g.,HE-SIG-B).

FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating another example 504 of an OFDM/Apacket. This example 504 depicts a type of OFDM/A packet that includes apreamble and data. The preamble is composed of at least one shorttraining field (STF), at least one long training field (LTF), and atleast one signal field (SIG).

In this example 504, the preamble is composed of at least one shorttraining field (STF) that corresponds to a prior or legacy communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relative to a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as L-STF(s)) followed by at least one long trainingfield (LTF) that corresponds to a prior or legacy communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relative to a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as L-LTF(s)) followed by at least one SIG thatcorresponds to a prior or legacy communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice relative to a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asL-SIG(s)) and optionally followed by a repeat (e.g., or cyclicallyshifted repeat) of the L-SIG(s) (shown as RL-SIG(s)) followed by anotherat least one SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A,e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by anotherat least one STF based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-STF(s),e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by anotherat least one LTF based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-LTF(s),e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by atleast one packet extension followed by one or more fields.

FIG. 5E is a diagram illustrating another example 505 of an OFDM/Apacket. In this example 505, the preamble is composed of at least onefield followed by at least one SIG that corresponds to a prior or legacycommunication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relativeto a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/orrecommended practice (shown as L-SIG(s)) and optionally followed by arepeat (e.g., or cyclically shifted repeat) of the L-SIG(s) (shown asRL-SIG(s)) followed by another at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by one or more fields.

Note that information included in the various fields in the variousexamples provided herein may be encoded using various encoders. In someexamples, two independent binary convolutional code (BCC) encoders areimplemented to encode information corresponding to different respectivemodulation coding sets (MCSs) that are can be selected and/or optimizedwith respect to, among other things, the respective payload on therespective channel. Various communication channel examples are describedwith respect to FIG. 7D below.

Also, in some examples, a wireless communication device generatescontent that is included in the various SIGs (e.g., SIGA and/or SIGB) tosignal MCS(s) to one or more other wireless communication devices toinstruct which MCS(s) for those one or more other wireless communicationdevices to use with respect to one or more communications. In addition,in some examples, content included in a first at least one SIG (e.g.,SIGA) include information to specify at least one operational parameterfor use in processing a second at least one SIG (e.g., SIGB) within thesame OFDM/A packet.

Various OFDM/A frame structures are presented herein for use incommunications between wireless communication devices and specificallyshowing OFDM/A frame structures corresponding to one or more resourceunits (RUs). Such OFDM/A frame structures may include one or more RUs.Note that these various examples may include different total numbers ofsub-carriers, different numbers of data sub-carriers, different numbersof pilot sub-carriers, etc. Different RUs may also have different othercharacteristics (e.g., different spacing between the sub-carriers,different sub-carrier densities, implemented within different frequencybands, etc.).

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example 601 of selection amongdifferent OFDM/A frame structures for use in communications betweenwireless communication devices and specifically showing OFDM/A framestructures 350 corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs). Thisdiagram may be viewed as having some similarities to allocation ofsub-carriers to different users as shown in FIG. 4D and also shows howeach OFDM/A frame structure is associated with one or more RUs. Notethat these various examples may include different total numbers ofsub-carriers, different numbers of data sub-carriers, different numbersof pilot sub-carriers, etc. Different RUs may also have different othercharacteristics (e.g., different spacing between the sub-carriers,different sub-carrier densities, implemented within different frequencybands, etc.).

In one example, OFDM/A frame structure 1 351 is composed of at least oneRU 1 651. In another example, OFDM/A frame structure 1 351 is composedof at least one RU 1 651 and at least one RU 2 652. In another example,OFDM/A frame structure 1 351 is composed of at least one RU 1 651, atleast one RU 2 652, and at least one RU m 653. Similarly, the OFDM/Aframe structure 2 352 up through OFDM/A frame structure n 353 may becomposed of any combinations of the various RUs (e.g., including any oneor more RU selected from the RU 1 651 through RU m 653).

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example 602 of various types ofdifferent resource units (RUs). In this example 602, RU 1 651 includesA1 total sub-carrier(s), A2 data (D) sub-carrier(s), A3 pilot (P)sub-carrier(s), and A4 unused sub-carrier(s). RU 2 652 includes B1 totalsub-carrier(s), B2 D sub-carrier(s), B3 P sub-carrier(s), and B4 unusedsub-carrier(s). RU N 653 includes C1 total sub-carrier(s), C2 Dsub-carrier(s), C3 P sub-carrier(s), and C4 unused sub-carrier(s).

Considering the various RUs (e.g., across RU 1 651 to RU N 653), thetotal number of sub-carriers across the RUs increases from RU 1 651 toRU N 653 (e.g., A1<B1<C1). Also, considering the various RUs (e.g.,across RU 1 651 to RU N 653), the ratio of pilot sub-carriers to datasub-carriers across the RUs generally decreases from RU 1 651 to RU N653 (e.g., A3/A2>B3/B2>C3/C2).

In some examples, note that different RUs can include a different numberof total sub-carriers and a different number of data sub-carriers yetinclude a same number of pilot sub-carriers.

As can be seen, this disclosure presents various options for mapping ofdata and pilot sub-carriers (and sometimes unused sub-carriers thatinclude no modulation data or are devoid of modulation data) into OFDMAframes or packets (note that frame and packet may be usedinterchangeably herein) in various communications between communicationdevices including both the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) such as withrespect to an access point (AP). Note that a user may generally beunderstood to be a wireless communication device implemented in awireless communication system (e.g., a wireless station (STA) or anaccess point (AP) within a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi)). Forexample, a user may be viewed as a given wireless communication device(e.g., a wireless station (STA) or an access point (AP), or anAP-operative STA within a wireless communication system). Thisdisclosure discussed localized mapping and distributed mapping of suchsub-carriers or tones with respect to different users in an OFDMAcontext (e.g., such as with respect to FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D includingallocation of sub-carriers to one or more users).

Some versions of the IEEE 802.11 standard have the following physicallayer (PHY) fast Fourier transform (FFT) sizes: 32, 64, 128, 256, 512.

These PHY FFT sizes are mapped to different bandwidths (BWs) (e.g.,which may be achieved using different downclocking ratios or factorsapplied to a first clock signal to generate different other clocksignals such as a second clock signal, a third clock signal, etc.). Inmany locations, this disclosure refers to FFT sizes instead of BW sinceFFT size determines a user's specific allocation of sub-carriers, RUs,etc. and the entire system BW using one or more mappings ofsub-carriers, RUs, etc.

This disclosure presents various ways by which the mapping of N users'sdata into the system BW tones (localized or distributed). For example,if the system BW uses 256 FFT, modulation data for 8 different users caneach use a 32 FFT, respectively. Alternatively, if the system BW uses256 FFT, modulation data for 4 different users can each use a 64 FFT,respectively. In another alternative, if the system BW uses 256 FFT,modulation data for 2 different users can each use a 128 FFT,respectively. Also, any number of other combinations is possible withunequal BW allocated to different users such as 32 FFT to 2 users, 64FFT for one user, and 128 FFT for the last user.

Localized mapping (e.g., contiguous sub-carrier allocations to differentusers such as with reference to FIG. 3D) is preferable for certainapplications such as low mobility users (e.g., that remain stationary orsubstantially stationary and whose location does not change frequently)since each user can be allocated to a sub-band based on at least onecharacteristic. An example of such a characteristic includes allocationto a sub-band that maximizes its performance (e.g., highest SNR orhighest capacity in multi-antenna system). The respective wirelesscommunication devices (users) receive frames or packets (e.g., beacons,null data packet (NDP), data, etc. and/or other frame or packet types)over the entire band and feedback their preferred sub-band or a list ofpreferred sub-bands. Alternatively, a first device (e.g., transmitter,AP, or STA) transmits at least one OFDMA packet to a secondcommunication device, and the second device (e.g., receiver, a STA, oranother STA) may be configured to measure the first device's initialtransmission occupying the entire band and choose a best/good orpreferable sub-band. The second device can be configured to transmit theselection of the information to the first device via feedback, etc.

In some examples, a device is configured to employ PHY designs for 32FFT, 64 FFT and 128 FFT as OFDMA blocks inside of a 256 FFT system BW.When this is done, there can be some unused sub-carriers (e.g., holes ofunused sub-carriers within the provisioned system BW being used). Thiscan also be the case for the lower FFT sizes. In some examples, when anFFT is an integer multiple of another, the larger FFT can be a duplicatea certain number of times of the smaller FFT (e.g., a 512 FFT can be anexact duplicate of two implementations of 256 FFT). In some examples,when using 256 FFT for system BW the available number of tones is 242that can be split among the various users that belong to the OFDMA frameor packet (DL or UL).

In some examples, a PHY design can leave gaps of sub-carriers betweenthe respective wireless communication devices (users) (e.g., unusedsub-carriers). For example, users 1 and 4 may each use a 32 FFTstructure occupying a total of 26×2=52 sub-carriers, user 2 may use a 64FFT occupying 56 sub-carriers and user 3 may use 128 FFT occupying 106sub-carriers adding up to a sum total of 214 sub-carriers leaving 28sub-carriers unused.

In another example, only 32 FFT users are multiplexed allowing up to 9users with 242 sub-carriers—(9 users×26 RUs)=8 unused sub-carriersbetween the users. In yet another example, for 64 FFT users aremultiplexed with 242 sub-carriers—(4 users×56 RUs)=18 unusedsub-carriers.

The unused sub-carriers can be used to provide better separation betweenusers especially in the UL where users's energy can spill into eachother due to imperfect time/frequency/power synchronization creatinginter-carrier interference (ICI).

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating another example 701 of various typesof different RUs. In this example 701, RU 1 includes X1 totalsub-carrier(s), X2 data (D) sub-carrier(s), X3 pilot (P) sub-carrier(s),and X4 unused sub-carrier(s). RU 2 includes Y1 total sub-carrier(s), Y2D sub-carrier(s), Y3 P sub-carrier(s), and Y4 unused sub-carrier(s). RUq includes Z1 total sub-carrier(s), Z2 D sub-carrier(s), Z3 Psub-carrier(s), and Z4 unused sub-carrier(s). In this example 701, notethat different RUs can include different spacing between thesub-carriers, different sub-carrier densities, implemented withindifferent frequency bands, span different ranges within at least onefrequency band, etc.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating another example 702 of various typesof different RUs. This diagram shows RU 1 that includes 26 contiguoussub-carriers that include 24 data sub-carriers, and 2 pilotsub-carriers; RU 2 that includes 52 contiguous sub-carriers that include48 data sub-carriers, and 4 pilot sub-carriers; RU 3 that includes 106contiguous sub-carriers that include 102 data sub-carriers, and 4 pilotsub-carriers; RU 4 that includes 242 contiguous sub-carriers thatinclude 234 data sub-carriers, and 8 pilot sub-carriers; RU 5 thatincludes 484 contiguous sub-carriers that include 468 data sub-carriers,and 16 pilot sub-carriers; and RU 6 that includes 996 contiguoussub-carriers that include 980 data sub-carriers, and 16 pilotsub-carriers.

Note that RU 2 and RU 3 include a first/same number of pilotsub-carriers (e.g., 4 pilot sub-carriers each), and RU 5 and RU 6include a second/same number of pilot sub-carriers (e.g., 16 pilotsub-carriers each). The number of pilot sub-carriers remains same orincreases across the RUs. Note also that some of the RUs include aninteger multiple number of sub-carriers of other RUs (e.g., RU 2includes 52 total sub-carriers, which is 2× the 26 total sub-carriers ofRU 1, and RU 5 includes 242 total sub-carriers, which is 2× the 242total sub-carriers of RU 4).

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating an example 703 of various types ofcommunication protocol specified physical layer (PHY) fast Fouriertransform (FFT) sizes. The device 310 is configured to generate andtransmit OFDMA packets based on various PHY FFT sizes as specifiedwithin at least one communication protocol. Some examples of PHY FFTsizes, such as based on IEEE 802.11, include PHY FFT sizes such as 32,64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, and/or other sizes.

In one example, the device 310 is configured to generate and transmit anOFDMA packet based on RU 1 that includes 26 contiguous sub-carriers thatinclude 24 data sub-carriers, and 2 pilot sub-carriers and to transmitthat OFDMA packet based on a PHY FFT 32 (e.g., the RU 1 fits within thePHY FFT 32). In one example, the device 310 is configured to generateand transmit an OFDMA packet based on RU 2 that includes 52 contiguoussub-carriers that include 48 data sub-carriers, and 4 pilot sub-carriersand to transmit that OFDMA packet based on a PHY FFT 56 (e.g., the RU 2fits within the PHY FFT 56). The device 310 uses other sized RUs forother sized PHY FFTs based on at least one communication protocol.

Note also that any combination of RUs may be used. In another example,the device 310 is configured to generate and transmit an OFDMA packetbased on two RUs based on RU 1 and one RU based on RU 2 based on a PHYFFT 128 (e.g., two RUs based on RU 1 and one RU based on RU 2 includes atotal of 104 sub-carriers). The device 310 is configured to generate andtransmit any OFDMA packets based on any combination of RUs that can fitwithin an appropriately selected PHY FFT size of at least onecommunication protocol.

Note also that any given RU may be sub-divided or partitioned intosubsets of sub-carriers to carry modulation data for one or more users(e.g., such as with respect to FIG. 3C or FIG. 3D).

FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating an example 704 of different channelbandwidths and relationship there between. In one example, a device(e.g., the device 310) is configured to generate and transmit any OFDMApacket based on any of a number of OFDMA frame structures within variouscommunication channels having various channel bandwidths. For example, a160 MHz channel may be subdivided into two 80 MHz channels. An 80 MHzchannel may be subdivided into two 40 MHz channels. A 40 MHz channel maybe subdivided into two 20 MHz channels. Note also such channels may belocated within the same frequency band, the same frequency sub-band oralternatively among different frequency bands, different frequencysub-bands, etc.

In certain of the following diagrams, the explicitly shown individualsub-carriers represent null tone/sub-carriers (e.g., those that includeno data/information modulated thereon). Also, different respective RUsare shown in the various OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plans of the followingdiagrams such that the number shown in the diagram for a given RU (e.g.,13, 26, 52, 106, 242, 484, 994, 996, etc.) indicates the number ofsub-carriers therein (e.g., an RU 13 includes 13 sub-carriers, eachbeing one-half of a RU 26 that includes 13 sub-carriers; an RU 26includes 26 sub-carriers; an RU 52 includes 52 sub-carriers, and so on).Note the DC denotes the center of the OFDMA sub-carriers of a givenOFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan (e.g., the center frequency of a givencommunication channel and/or those sub-carriers substantially locatednear the center of the OFDMA sub-carriers, with the horizontal axisshowing frequency, sub-carriers (SCs), and/or bandwidth (BW)). Also,note that each respective OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan includes multiplesub-carrier (SC) sub-plans depicted in various levels. Generally, whendescending in a given OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan, the size of therespective RUs therein increases. Note that a given SC sub-plan mayinclude RUs of one or two or more different sized-RUs.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an example 801 of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan. This diagram shows an OFDMA tone/sub-carrier planwith 4 SC sub-plans. A 1^(st) SC sub-plan includes multiple RUs thatincludes 26 sub-carriers and one sized 26 RU that is split across DC(e.g., with one respective RU that includes 13 sub-carriers on each sideof DC). A 2^(nd) SC sub-plan includes multiple RUs that includes 52sub-carriers and one sized 26 RU that is split across DC (e.g., with onerespective RU that includes 13 sub-carriers on each side of DC); notethat each RU 52 includes those sub-carriers directly included above in 2RU 26 located directly above in the 1^(st) SC sub-plan. A 3^(rd) SCsub-plan includes multiple RUs that includes 106 sub-carriers and onesized 26 RU that is split across DC (e.g., with one respective RU thatincludes 13 sub-carriers on each side of DC); note that each RU 106includes those sub-carriers directly included above in 2 RU 52 locateddirectly as well as 2 null sub-carriers located above in the 2^(nd) SCsub-plan. A 4^(th) SC sub-plan includes one RU that includes 242sub-carriers and spans the OFDMA sub-carriers. In some examples, theOFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan of this diagram is based on a communicationchannel having a bandwidth of 20 MHz. In such a 20 MHz implementation,the unused sub-carrier locations for 26 tones RU (positive and negativeindices) are as follows: 2, 3, 69, 122. As for construction of the OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan in a 20 MHz implementation, RU-106 aligns with twoRU-52 with one unused tone at end and one in the middle.

Note that analogous and similar principles of design are used in thefollowing OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plans. The details are shown in thediagrams showing symmetry, construction, design, etc. of the variousOFDMA tone/sub-carrier plans.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating another example 802 of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan. This diagram shows an OFDMA tone/sub-carrier planwith 5 SC sub-plans. Details are shown in the diagram. In some examples,the OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan of this diagram is based on acommunication channel having a bandwidth of 40 MHz. In such a 40 MHzimplementation, the unused sub-carrier locations for 26 tones RU(positive and negative indices) are as follows: 3, 56, 57, 110, 137,190, 191, 244, where 56 indicates modulo 8.

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating another example 901 of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan. This diagram shows an OFDMA tone/sub-carrier planwith 6 SC sub-plans. Details are shown in the diagram. In some examples,the OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan of this diagram is based on acommunication channel having a bandwidth of 80 MHz. In such an 80 MHzimplementation, the unused sub-carrier locations for 26 tones RU(positive and negative indices) are as follows: 17, 70, 71, 124, 151,204, 205, 258, 259, 312, 313, 366, 393, 446, 447, 500, where 312indicates modulo 8.

As for construction of the OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan in a 40 MHzimplementation, the design involves spreading unused tones for RU-26 andkeeping alignment of two RU-26 with RU-52. As for construction of theOFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan in a 80 MHz implementation relative to the40 MHz implementation, the design involves no change except adding aRU-26 in center of band (e.g., split into two separate RU-13 on eachside of DC).

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating another example 902 of an OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan. This diagram shows an OFDMA tone/sub-carrier planwith 6 SC sub-plans. Details are shown in the diagram. In some examples,the OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan of this diagram is based on acommunication channel having a bandwidth of 160 MHz, and this OFDMAtone/sub-carrier plan includes the OFDMA sub-carrier plan of FIG. 9Ashown in the left hand side and the right hand side of DC across thecommunication channel having the bandwidth of 160 MHz.

Certain of the various OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plans include a firstOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes first RUs of a firstsub-carrier size and first null sub-carriers that are distributed acrossthe OFDMA sub-carriers as well as a second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-planthat includes second RUs of a second sub-carrier size that are greaterthan the first sub-carrier size and a second null sub-carriers that aredistributed across the OFDMA sub-carriers such that the second nullsub-carriers are located in common locations as the first nullsub-carriers within the OFDMA sub-carriers.

In some OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan examples, within the first OFDMAsub-carrier sub-plan of the OFDMA sub-carrier plan, the first nullsub-carriers of the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan are interspersedamong the first RUs of the first sub-carrier size. Also, a first nullsub-carrier of the first null sub-carriers is located at a beginning ofthe OFDMA sub-carriers, and a second null sub-carrier of the first nullsub-carriers is located at an end of the OFDMA sub-carriers. Also, atleast one null sub-carrier of the first null sub-carriers is locatedbetween two RUs of the first RUs of the first sub-carrier size.

Also, in some OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan examples, within the secondOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan of the OFDMA sub-carrier plan, the secondnull sub-carriers are interspersed among the second RUs of the secondsub-carrier size that is greater than the first sub-carrier size. Also,a first null sub-carrier of the second null sub-carriers is located atthe beginning of the OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., on one edge of the OFDMAsub-carriers), and a second null sub-carrier of the second nullsub-carriers is located at the end of the OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., onanother edge of the OFDMA sub-carriers). Also, at least one nullsub-carrier of the second null sub-carriers is located between two RUsof the second RUs of the second sub-carrier size, and the second nullsub-carriers includes a same number of null sub-carriers as the firstnull sub-carriers (the first and second null sub-carriers include a samenumber of sub-carriers and are commonly located).

Also, in some OFDMA tone/sub-carrier plan examples, within a third OFDMAsub-carrier sub-plan of the OFDMA sub-carrier plan, third RUs of a thirdsub-carrier size that is greater than the second sub-carrier size andthird null sub-carriers are distributed across the OFDMA sub-carriers.Also, the third null sub-carriers are interspersed among the third RUsof the third sub-carrier size that is greater than the secondsub-carrier size, and the third null sub-carriers includes fewer nullsub-carriers than the first null sub-carriers.

In certain specific implementations, the first RUs of the firstsub-carrier size includes 26 OFDMA sub-carriers, the second RUs of thesecond sub-carrier size includes 52 OFDMA sub-carriers, and the thirdRUs of the third sub-carrier size includes 106 OFDMA sub-carriers. Inaddition, other RUs of different RU sizes may be included (e.g.,including 242, 484, 994 and/or 996 sized RUs).

Also, in some examples, the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includesthe first RUs of the first sub-carrier size, the first nullsub-carriers, and at least one other RU that is one-half the firstsub-carrier size that are distributed across the OFDMA sub-carriers.Also, the second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes the second RUs ofthe second sub-carrier size that is greater than the first sub-carriersize, the second null sub-carriers, and at least one other RU that isone-half the second sub-carrier size that are distributed across theOFDMA sub-carriers.

In some examples, certain design principles include trying to distributethe null/unused sub-carriers/tones throughout an OFDMA sub-carrier plan.For example, such a design spread the null/unused sub-carriers/tonesuniformly (e.g., substantially and/or approximately) among therelatively smaller sizes RUs. Also, the design operates not to changelocations (e.g., to maintain locations of null/unused sub-carriers/tonesas much as possible) as the RU sizes decrease as going upwards in theOFDMA sub-carrier plans (e.g., including keeping the null/unused tonesabove locations identical from below).

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 1001 forexecution by one or more wireless communication devices.

The method 1001 begins by selecting at least one RU from an OFDMAsub-carrier plan for use in supporting communications with at least oneother WDEV (block 1010). In some examples, a first OFDMA sub-carriersub-plan includes first RUs of a first sub-carrier size and first nullsub-carriers that are distributed across OFDMA sub-carriers (block 1010a). The OFDMA sub-carriers may be associated with a communicationchannel of a desired bandwidth such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160MHz within a desired frequency band. Also, a second OFDMA sub-carriersub-plan includes second RUs of a second sub-carrier size that isgreater than the first sub-carrier size and second null sub-carriersthat are distributed across the OFDMA sub-carriers (block 1010 b). Insome instances, the second null sub-carriers are located in commonlocations as the first null sub-carriers within the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers (block 1010 c).

The method 1001 then operates by transmitting (e.g., via a communicationinterface of the WDEV) a signal to the at least one other WDEV thatincludes information that specifies the at least one RU that is selectedfrom the OFDMA sub-carrier plan (block 1030).

The method 1001 continues by supporting (e.g., via the communicationinterface of the WDEV) communications with the at least one other WDEVusing the at least one RU that is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrierplan (block 1040).

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 1002for execution by one or more wireless communication devices. The method1002 begins by generating a signal that includes information thatassigns a 1^(st) RU for a 1^(st) WDEV, a 2^(nd) RU for a 2^(nd) WDEV,etc. (block 1011).

The method 1002 continues by transmitting (e.g., via a communicationinterface of the WDEV executing the method 1002 to the 1^(st) WDEV, the2^(nd) WDEV, etc.) the signal that includes the information thatspecifies the selected RUs (block 1021). The method 1002 then operatesby supporting (e.g., via the communication interface of the WDEV withthe 1st WDEV, the 2^(nd) WDEV, etc.) using the selected RUs (block1031).

FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 1003for execution by one or more wireless communication devices. The method1003 begins by receiving (e.g., via the communication interface of theWDEV and from a 1^(st) other WDEV) a signal that includes informationthat assigns at least one 1^(st) RU to the WDEV executing the method1003 (and may also include at least one 2^(nd) RU for a 2^(nd) otherWDEV, at least one 3^(rd) RU for a 3^(rd) other WDEV, etc.) (block1012).

The method 1003 continues by processing the signal to recover the atleast one 1^(st) RU (block 1022). The method 1003 then operates bysupporting (e.g., via the communication interface of the WDEV with the1^(st) WDEV) using the at least one 1^(st) RU (block 1032).

It is noted that the various operations and functions described withinvarious methods herein may be performed within a wireless communicationdevice (e.g., such as by the processing circuitry 330, communicationinterface 320, and memory 340 or processing circuitry 330 a such asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2B) and/or other components therein.Generally, a communication interface and processing circuitry (oralternatively a processing circuitry that includes communicationinterface functionality, components, circuitry, etc.) in a wirelesscommunication device can perform such operations.

Examples of some components may include one of more baseband processingmodules, one or more media access control (MAC) layer components, one ormore physical layer (PHY) components, and/or other components, etc. Forexample, such a processing circuitry can perform baseband processingoperations and can operate in conjunction with a radio, analog front end(AFE), etc. The processing circuitry can generate such signals, packets,frames, and/or equivalents etc. as described herein as well as performvarious operations described herein and/or their respective equivalents.

In some embodiments, such a baseband processing module and/or aprocessing module (which may be implemented in the same device orseparate devices) can perform such processing to generate signals fortransmission to another wireless communication device using any numberof radios and antennae. In some embodiments, such processing isperformed cooperatively by a processing circuitry in a first device andanother processing circuitry within a second device. In otherembodiments, such processing is performed wholly by a processingcircuitry within one device.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “configured to,” “operably coupled to,” “coupled to,” and/or“coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirectcoupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes,but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or amodule) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening itemdoes not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its currentlevel, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein,inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another elementby inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items inthe same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, theterm “configured to,” “operable to,” “coupled to,” or “operably coupledto” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections,input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more itscorresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to oneor more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term“associated with,” includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separateitems and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably” or equivalent,indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc.,provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desiredrelationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, afavorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 isgreater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is lessthan that of signal 1.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module,” “processingcircuit,” “processor,” and/or “processing unit” or their equivalents maybe a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Sucha processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or furtherinclude, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be asingle memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embeddedcircuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory,random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any devicethat stores digital information. Note that if the processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more thanone processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memoryelement may store, and the processing module, module, processingcircuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memorydevice or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments of an invention have been described above withthe aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence ofthese functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarilydefined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries andsequences can be defined so long as the specified functions andrelationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundariesor sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims.Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have beenarbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundariescould be defined as long as the certain significant functions areappropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also havebeen arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significantfunctionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries andsequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certainsignificant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functionalbuilding blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus withinthe scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill inthe art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, andother illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can beimplemented as illustrated or by discrete components, applicationspecific integrated circuits, processing circuitries, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples of the invention. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, anarticle of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include oneor more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. describedwith reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein.Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the sameor similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the sameor different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps,modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc.or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module includes a processing module, a processor, afunctional block, a processing circuitry, hardware, and/or memory thatstores operational instructions for performing one or more functions asmay be described herein. Note that, if the module is implemented viahardware, the hardware may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure of an invention is not limited by the particularexamples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these othercombinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication device comprising: aprocessing circuitry configured to: select a resource unit (RU) from anorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) sub-carrier planfor use in supporting communications with another wireless communicationdevice, wherein the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is characterized by: a firstOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes a first plurality of RUs of afirst sub-carrier size and a first plurality of null sub-carriers thatare distributed across a plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers; and a secondOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes a second plurality of RUs of asecond sub-carrier size that is greater than the first sub-carrier sizeand a second plurality of null sub-carriers that are distributed acrossthe plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, wherein the second plurality ofnull sub-carriers are located in common locations as the first pluralityof null sub-carriers within the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers;transmit a signal to the another wireless communication device thatincludes information that specifies the RU that is selected from theOFDMA sub-carrier plan; and support communications with the anotherwireless communication device using the RU that is selected from theOFDMA sub-carrier plan.
 2. The wireless communication device of claim 1,wherein the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers are included within acommunication channel that has a bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or160 MHz.
 3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein:within the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan, the first plurality of nullsub-carriers of the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan is interspersedamong the first plurality of RUs of the first sub-carrier size, a firstnull sub-carrier of the first plurality of null sub-carriers is locatedat a beginning of the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, a second nullsub-carrier of the first plurality of null sub-carriers is located at anend of the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, and at least one nullsub-carrier of the first plurality of null sub-carriers is locatedbetween two RUs of the first plurality of RUs of the first sub-carriersize; within the second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan, the second pluralityof null sub-carriers is interspersed among the second plurality of RUsof the second sub-carrier size that is greater than the firstsub-carrier size, a first null sub-carrier of the second plurality ofnull sub-carriers is located at the beginning of the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, a second null sub-carrier of the second plurality of nullsub-carriers is located at the end of the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, at least one null sub-carrier of the second plurality ofnull sub-carriers is located between two RUs of the second plurality ofRUs of the second sub-carrier size, and the second plurality of nullsub-carriers includes a same number of null sub-carriers as the firstplurality of null sub-carriers; and wherein the OFDMA sub-carrier planis further characterized by: a third OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan thatincludes a third plurality of RUs of a third sub-carrier size that isgreater than the second sub-carrier size and a third plurality of nullsub-carriers that are distributed across the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, the third plurality of null sub-carriers is interspersedamong the third plurality of RUs of the third sub-carrier size that isgreater than the second sub-carrier size, and the third plurality ofnull sub-carriers includes fewer null sub-carriers than the firstplurality of null sub-carriers.
 4. The wireless communication device ofclaim 3, wherein: the first plurality of RUs of the first sub-carriersize includes 26 OFDMA sub-carriers; the second plurality of RUs of thesecond sub-carrier size includes 52 OFDMA sub-carriers; and the thirdplurality of RUs of the third sub-carrier size includes 106 OFDMAsub-carriers.
 5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein:the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes the first plurality of RUsof the first sub-carrier size, the first plurality of null sub-carriers,and at least one other RU that is one-half the first sub-carrier sizethat are distributed across the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers; and thesecond OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes the second plurality of RUsof the second sub-carrier size that is greater than the firstsub-carrier size, the second plurality of null sub-carriers, and atleast one other RU that is one-half the second sub-carrier size that aredistributed across the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers.
 6. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1 further comprising: a communicationinterface, coupled to the processing circuitry, that is configured tosupport communications within at least one of a satellite communicationsystem, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, afiber-optic communication system, or a mobile communication system; andthe processing circuitry configured to at least one of transmit thesignal to the another wireless communication device or supportcommunications with the another wireless communication device via thecommunication interface, wherein the information that specifies the RUthat is selected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is included within asignal field (SIG) of the signal.
 7. The wireless communication deviceof claim 1 further comprising: an access point (AP), wherein the anotherwireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA).
 8. Thewireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising: an accesspoint (AP), wherein the another wireless communication device includes awireless station (STA).
 9. A wireless communication device comprising: aprocessing circuitry configured to: select a resource unit (RU) from anorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) sub-carrier planfor use in supporting communications with another wireless communicationdevice, wherein the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is characterized by: a firstOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes a first plurality of RUs of afirst sub-carrier size and a first plurality of null sub-carriers thatare distributed across a plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers of acommunication channel that has a bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or160 MHz; a second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes a secondplurality of RUs of a second sub-carrier size that is greater than thefirst sub-carrier size and a second plurality of null sub-carriers thatare distributed across the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, wherein thesecond plurality of null sub-carriers are located in common locations asthe first plurality of null sub-carriers within the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, and the second plurality of null sub-carriers includes asame number of null sub-carriers as the first plurality of nullsub-carriers; and a third OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes athird plurality of RUs of a third sub-carrier size that is greater thanthe second sub-carrier size and a third plurality of null sub-carriersthat are distributed across the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, whereinthe third plurality of null sub-carriers includes fewer nullsub-carriers than the first plurality of null sub-carriers; transmit asignal to the another wireless communication device that includesinformation that specifies the RU that is selected from the OFDMAsub-carrier plan; and support communications with the another wirelesscommunication device using the RU that is selected from the OFDMAsub-carrier plan within the communication channel.
 10. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 9, wherein: within the first OFDMAsub-carrier sub-plan, the first plurality of null sub-carriers of thefirst OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan is interspersed among the firstplurality of RUs of the first sub-carrier size, a first null sub-carrierof the first plurality of null sub-carriers is located at a beginning ofthe plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, a second null sub-carrier of thefirst plurality of null sub-carriers is located at an end of theplurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, at least one null sub-carrier of thefirst plurality of null sub-carriers is located between two RUs of thefirst plurality of RUs of the first sub-carrier size, and the firstplurality of RUs of the first sub-carrier size includes 26 OFDMAsub-carriers; within the second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan, the secondplurality of null sub-carriers is interspersed among the secondplurality of RUs of the second sub-carrier size that is greater than thefirst sub-carrier size, a first null sub-carrier of the second pluralityof null sub-carriers is located at the beginning of the plurality ofOFDMA sub-carriers, a second null sub-carrier of the second plurality ofnull sub-carriers is located at the end of the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, at least one null sub-carrier of the second plurality ofnull sub-carriers is located between two RUs of the second plurality ofRUs of the second sub-carrier size, and the second plurality of RUs ofthe second sub-carrier size includes 52 OFDMA sub-carriers; and withinthe third OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan, the third plurality of nullsub-carriers is interspersed among the third plurality of RUs of thethird sub-carrier size that is greater than the second sub-carrier size,and the third plurality of RUs of the third sub-carrier size includes106 OFDMA sub-carriers.
 11. The wireless communication device of claim9, wherein: the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes the firstplurality of RUs of the first sub-carrier size, the first plurality ofnull sub-carriers, and at least one additional RU that is one-half thefirst sub-carrier size that are distributed across the plurality ofOFDMA sub-carriers; the second OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes thesecond plurality of RUs of the second sub-carrier size that is greaterthan the first sub-carrier size, the second plurality of nullsub-carriers, and at least one additional RU that is one-half the firstsub-carrier size or one-half the second sub-carrier size that aredistributed across the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers; and the thirdOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes the third plurality of RUs of thethird sub-carrier size that is greater than the second sub-carrier size,the third plurality of null sub-carriers, and at least one otheradditional RU that is are one-half the first sub-carrier size orone-half the second sub-carrier size that are distributed across theplurality of OFDMA sub-carriers.
 12. The wireless communication deviceof claim 9 further comprising: a communication interface, coupled to theprocessing circuitry, that is configured to support communicationswithin at least one of a satellite communication system, a wirelesscommunication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-opticcommunication system, or a mobile communication system; and theprocessing circuitry configured to at least one of transmit the signalto the another wireless communication device or support communicationswith the another wireless communication device via the communicationinterface, wherein the information that specifies the RU that isselected from the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is included within a signalfield (SIG) of the signal.
 13. The wireless communication device ofclaim 9 further comprising: an access point (AP), wherein the anotherwireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA).
 14. Amethod for execution by a wireless communication device, the methodcomprising: selecting a resource unit (RU) from an orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) sub-carrier plan for use in supportingcommunications with another wireless communication device, wherein theOFDMA sub-carrier plan is characterized by: a first OFDMA sub-carriersub-plan that includes a first plurality of RUs of a first sub-carriersize and a first plurality of null sub-carriers that are distributedacross a plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers; and a second OFDMA sub-carriersub-plan that includes a second plurality of RUs of a second sub-carriersize that is greater than the first sub-carrier size and a secondplurality of null sub-carriers that are distributed across the pluralityof OFDMA sub-carriers, wherein the second plurality of null sub-carriersare located in common locations as the first plurality of nullsub-carriers within the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers; transmitting,via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, asignal to the another wireless communication device that includesinformation that specifies the RU that is selected from the OFDMAsub-carrier plan; and supporting, via the communication interface of thewireless communication device, communications with the another wirelesscommunication device using the RU that is selected from the OFDMAsub-carrier plan.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality ofOFDMA sub-carriers are included within a communication channel that hasa bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, wherein: within the first OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan, thefirst plurality of null sub-carriers of the first OFDMA sub-carriersub-plan is interspersed among the first plurality of RUs of the firstsub-carrier size, a first null sub-carrier of the first plurality ofnull sub-carriers is located at a beginning of the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, a second null sub-carrier of the first plurality of nullsub-carriers is located at an end of the plurality of OFDMAsub-carriers, and at least one null sub-carrier of the first pluralityof null sub-carriers is located between two RUs of the first pluralityof RUs of the first sub-carrier size; within the second OFDMAsub-carrier sub-plan, the second plurality of null sub-carriers isinterspersed among the second plurality of RUs of the second sub-carriersize that is greater than the first sub-carrier size, a first nullsub-carrier of the second plurality of null sub-carriers is located atthe beginning of the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, a second nullsub-carrier of the second plurality of null sub-carriers is located atthe end of the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, at least one nullsub-carrier of the second plurality of null sub-carriers is locatedbetween two RUs of the second plurality of RUs of the second sub-carriersize, and the second plurality of null sub-carriers includes a samenumber of null sub-carriers as the first plurality of null sub-carriers;and wherein the OFDMA sub-carrier plan is further characterized by: athird OFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan that includes a third plurality of RUsof a third sub-carrier size that is greater than the second sub-carriersize and a third plurality of null sub-carriers that are distributedacross the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers, the third plurality of nullsub-carriers is interspersed among the third plurality of RUs of thethird sub-carrier size that is greater than the second sub-carrier size,and the third plurality of null sub-carriers includes fewer nullsub-carriers than the first plurality of null sub-carriers.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein: the first plurality of RUs of the firstsub-carrier size includes 26 OFDMA sub-carriers; the second plurality ofRUs of the second sub-carrier size includes 52 OFDMA sub-carriers; andthe third plurality of RUs of the third sub-carrier size includes 106OFDMA sub-carriers.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein: the first OFDMAsub-carrier sub-plan includes the first plurality of RUs of the firstsub-carrier size, the first plurality of null sub-carriers, and at leastone other RU that is one-half the first sub-carrier size that aredistributed across the plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers; and the secondOFDMA sub-carrier sub-plan includes the second plurality of RUs of thesecond sub-carrier size that is greater than the first sub-carrier size,the second plurality of null sub-carriers, and at least one other RUthat is one-half the second sub-carrier size that are distributed acrossthe plurality of OFDMA sub-carriers.
 19. The method of claim 14, whereinthe wireless communication device includes an access point (AP), and theanother wireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA).20. The method of claim 14 further comprising: operating thecommunication interface of the wireless communication device to supportcommunications within at least one of a satellite communication system,a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, afiber-optic communication system, or a mobile communication system.